Hardscape Industry Career Guide
Pay and Benefits that May Surprise You
With entry-level position beginning salaries of approximately $30,000, hardscape professionals can grow into designers, estimators or sales positions paying approximately $50,000. Salaries for management positions are higher, often into the 6 figures. Most professional hardscape companies offer competitive benefits as well.
Pride in Your Work
HARDSCAPING IS ABOUT CREATING BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENTS LIKE THIS THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY.
A Growing Industry
The hardscape industry is booming. Manufacturers are producing 663 million square feet of segmental concrete pavers and retaining wall products each year in the United States. These products are installed by thousands of hardscape professionals working in residential, commercial, industrial and municipal settings. More and more people are investing in hardscapes to add beauty to their outdoor settings, ensuring work for hardscape installers. Employers in the hardscape industry don’t have enough employees to meet demand.
Hardscape professionals not only create beautiful outdoor spaces, they also help protect the environment. Permeable pavement systems help solve surface runoff problems and filter pollutants from stormwater, protecting both the stormwater infrastructure and the environment. Work is done in a team environment, providing a strong sense of family in the hardscape company. You work with both your hands and mind as a hardscape professional, and even better, you work in the great outdoors.
Career Growth
Opportunities in the hardscape industry abound! From installer to designer to entrepreneur, those who have interest, ability and work ethic can grow into almost every position within their companies, including business owner. Some installers even become salespeople and trainers for paver/segmental retaining wall manufacturers, and others go on to pursue degrees in engineering, landscape architecture, or other related fields. HARDSCAPING IS A STABLE AND GROWING INDUSTRY WITH A VARIETY OF REWARDING CAREER PATHS.
Hardscape Industry Myth Busting! The hardscape industry includes installers, small and large contracting companies, scientists, engineers, managers and executives, manufacturers, architects and design professionals. All these roles come together to provide services for homeowners, businesses, government entities and the environment. Let’s look at some of the myths surrounding the hardscape industry:
Myth 3: There are no career advancement opportunities in the industry.
There are tremendous opportunities for advancement in the hardscape industry. Those entering the field who have a strong work ethic and master their responsibilities often earn supervisory opportunities and continue to progress throughout their career. This industry rewards those who demonstrate the right aptitudes and commitment.
Myth 4: The industry is low tech.
Technology plays a significant role in the work done in the hardscape industry. From mechanical installation machines to computer aided design (CAD), technology helps hardscape professionals do their jobs.
Myth 5: A college degree is wasted in the hardscape industry. Myth 1: You’ll never earn a good income as a hardscape professional.
Hardscape professionals are well-compensated for their expertise and skills. Managers, executives, sales professionals, and others often earn over $100,000 per year. Commitment, drive, and dedication are rewarded in the hardscape industry!
Myth 2: Hardscape jobs are all dirty and involve a lot of physical labor.
There are many job roles within the hardscape industry. Some jobs involve physical work, but there’s a lot more that defines the industry and its professionals. Many entrylevel workers without training start in the field, learning the foundation of hardscaping, but they are supported by specialized equipment and technology. Those who are promoted and those who enter the industry with training and skills may be involved in design, sales, administration, and management.
Hardscape firms are businesses that require talented, trained professionals with education in fields like business, chemistry, finance, and more. Most professionals believe their degree has helped advance their career.
Myth 6: Working as a hardscape professional is not a job in which you can have pride.
The work done by hardscape professionals helps create beauty and can help the environment too! Families can gather on a hardscaped yard to enjoy a barbecue, sit by the fire pit, or hang out at the pool. Hardscape walkways are a beautiful addition to a home. And permeable pavements help the environment by reducing surface runoff and filtering stormwater. Hardscape professionals create lasting beauty that makes a difference in their customers’ lives.